Tommy Rose

Tommy Rose's first world series as a participant is one he is not likely to forget.In Little League Baseball's 30th Senior World Series last week at Osceola County Stadium, Rose's pitching and bat control were critical in St. Cloud's fourth-place finish among the nine-team international field.''I went to bed with a smile on my face Saturday,'' he said. ''Nothing in my life has ever felt that good.''Rose edges leadoff hitter Bobby Myers, 15, the losing pitcher in game two against Brandon, and against Germany in St. Cloud's final game, who batted .720 (18-for-25)

Bobby Rose has been racing sprint cars for six years. The Howey-in-the-Hills resident comes by his need for speed naturally. His father was a professional racer, and his mother raced stock cars in all-female "powder puff" events. Rose's father, Tommy, began racing at the age of 17. He became a Canadian National Motorcycle Champion in 1959. He was Rookie of the Year in 1972, beating out Jeff Bodine in super midget racing. "Bodine made the money, and I got the trophy," Tommy Rose said. Ironically, tragedy on the track was what brought Rose's parents together.

Tommy Rose held Ramstein Air Force Base of Kaiserlautern, Germany, to five hits Tuesday as St. Cloud won, 5-2, in Little League Baseball's 30th Senior World Series at Osceola County Stadium.Rose, 14, struck out seven, walked none and got seven-hit support to eliminate Germany from contention.''I had butterflies but wasn't too worried,'' said Rose, whose father manages St. Cloud's team of 14-to 15-year-olds. ''Our offense was overdue.''St. Cloud will have a rematch with Brandon today at 2:30 p.m., with the loser being eliminated.

The St. Cloud Chamber of Commerce is preparing to stage its annual Independence Day celebration July 1 from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. at the city's lakefront park. Planners say this year's event will offer activities for nearly everyone. The chamber is planning to have hot dogs and wings for sale and the bear wagon will be there too. The Sons of the Confederacy will sell hamburgers, and other food vendors are also expected. The beach and picnic area will be open. The boat basin will be closed from midnight June 30 to midnight July 1. Crafts booths are new this year to the festival, and many artisans have signed up to participate.

Right-hander Tommy Rose, 18, a St. Cloud High School senior, has accepted a baseball grant-in-aid to pitch for Tallahassee Community College.''I was eager to get deciding where I'm going out of the way so I can concentrate on baseball,'' said Rose, who last fall quarterbacked the Bulldogs' football team to a district title. ''I haven't forgotten I've still got to play my senior year at St. Cloud.''Tallahassee coach Mike McLeod was ecstatic to get Rose, who was named to the 1994 Class 4A all-state team after pitching St. Cloud to its first district baseball championship in a decade.

Baseballs do what Tommy Rose wants.The ace of St. Cloud High School's staff gets pitches, some zipping along at 85 mph, to nip corners, bend at ridiculous angles and befuddle batters.Rose, The Osceola Sentinel's athlete of the week, hurled St. Cloud to its first postseason championship since 1985 with complete-game victories over Leesburg and Seminole last week in Class AAAA, District 6.Rose, a junior, leads Central Florida in strikeouts (118) and innings pitched (104). Add a school-record 13 complete games, and the numbers add up to a 12-2 record and 1.28 earned-run average.

Junior Tommy Rose's budding baseball career blossomed into a district championship for St. Cloud High School, the Bulldogs' first since 1985.Rose, 17, a premier Little League pitcher, Friday was named by the Florida Sports Writers Association to its Class AAAA first-team All-State roster.However, Rose was unprepared for the level of domination attained at the varsity level.''Surprised? I was very surprised,'' Rose said. ''I didn't think I would put up the numbers I did.''A resilient right arm carried the Osceola Sentinel's player of the year through 111 innings, a school-record 14 complete games and 12-3 record.

DANNY BAIRD contributed touchdown runs of 68 and 42 yards and returned a punt 42 yards for a third as St. Cloud High School's undefeated freshmen won their fifth in a row in a 28-8 victory over Gateway. Stan Venable scored on a 3-yard run, and Anil Azeez caught a two-point conversion pass from Tommy Rose for the Bulldogs' other points. Gateway slipped to 2-3 in defeat.

Tommy Rose, whose pitching played a key role in St. Cloud's 1991 fourth-place finish in Little League Baseball's 30th Senior World Series, later developed into one of Florida's top talents.Rose, as a St. Cloud High School junior, was named first-team on the Florida Sports Writers Association's Class 4A all-state team. As a senior, Rose was a third-team all-state pick, but received a baseball grant-in-aid to Tallahassee Community College and this past season out of the bullpen helped get the school into the Florida Junior College State Tournament.

RYAN NEWTON hit a grand slam as the Bears (3-2) salvaged a win in the three-game series in Gainesville on Sunday.Mercer got to Florida starter Tommy Rose (0-1) early, as Jeremy Avery hit a two-run home run in the first.Mercer pitcher Matt Parker (1-0) kept Florida (2-1) in check all afternoon, giving up three runs in 71/3 innings.Florida's Casey Smith had a solo home run in the fifth.SOUTH FLORIDA 15, MIAMI 2KEVIN BOLES drove in three runs with a home run and a single to lead the visiting Bulls (1-3)

Former St. Cloud High School pitcher Tommy Rose, 19, a Tallahassee Community College sophomore, has signed a baseball grant-in-aid to the University of Florida.Andy Lopez's reputation as an in-touch coach weighed in Florida's ability to entice Rose from Florida State's back yard.''Florida State offered me a scholarship, but Florida offered more,'' Rose said. ''Everybody I've talked to, even coaches from LSU and FSU, said I couldn't have made a better decision.''(Florida State) Coach (Mike)

Tommy Rose, whose pitching played a key role in St. Cloud's 1991 fourth-place finish in Little League Baseball's 30th Senior World Series, later developed into one of Florida's top talents.Rose, as a St. Cloud High School junior, was named first-team on the Florida Sports Writers Association's Class 4A all-state team. As a senior, Rose was a third-team all-state pick, but received a baseball grant-in-aid to Tallahassee Community College and this past season out of the bullpen helped get the school into the Florida Junior College State Tournament.

Right-hander Tommy Rose, 18, a St. Cloud High School senior, has accepted a baseball grant-in-aid to pitch for Tallahassee Community College.''I was eager to get deciding where I'm going out of the way so I can concentrate on baseball,'' said Rose, who last fall quarterbacked the Bulldogs' football team to a district title. ''I haven't forgotten I've still got to play my senior year at St. Cloud.''Tallahassee coach Mike McLeod was ecstatic to get Rose, who was named to the 1994 Class 4A all-state team after pitching St. Cloud to its first district baseball championship in a decade.

Junior Tommy Rose's budding baseball career blossomed into a district championship for St. Cloud High School, the Bulldogs' first since 1985.Rose, 17, a premier Little League pitcher, Friday was named by the Florida Sports Writers Association to its Class AAAA first-team All-State roster.However, Rose was unprepared for the level of domination attained at the varsity level.''Surprised? I was very surprised,'' Rose said. ''I didn't think I would put up the numbers I did.''A resilient right arm carried the Osceola Sentinel's player of the year through 111 innings, a school-record 14 complete games and 12-3 record.

RYAN NEWTON hit a grand slam as the Bears (3-2) salvaged a win in the three-game series in Gainesville on Sunday.Mercer got to Florida starter Tommy Rose (0-1) early, as Jeremy Avery hit a two-run home run in the first.Mercer pitcher Matt Parker (1-0) kept Florida (2-1) in check all afternoon, giving up three runs in 71/3 innings.Florida's Casey Smith had a solo home run in the fifth.SOUTH FLORIDA 15, MIAMI 2KEVIN BOLES drove in three runs with a home run and a single to lead the visiting Bulls (1-3)

The St. Cloud Chamber of Commerce is preparing to stage its annual Independence Day celebration July 1 from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. at the city's lakefront park. Planners say this year's event will offer activities for nearly everyone. The chamber is planning to have hot dogs and wings for sale and the bear wagon will be there too. The Sons of the Confederacy will sell hamburgers, and other food vendors are also expected. The beach and picnic area will be open. The boat basin will be closed from midnight June 30 to midnight July 1. Crafts booths are new this year to the festival, and many artisans have signed up to participate.

Baseballs do what Tommy Rose wants.The ace of St. Cloud High School's staff gets pitches, some zipping along at 85 mph, to nip corners, bend at ridiculous angles and befuddle batters.Rose, The Osceola Sentinel's athlete of the week, hurled St. Cloud to its first postseason championship since 1985 with complete-game victories over Leesburg and Seminole last week in Class AAAA, District 6.Rose, a junior, leads Central Florida in strikeouts (118) and innings pitched (104). Add a school-record 13 complete games, and the numbers add up to a 12-2 record and 1.28 earned-run average.

DANNY BAIRD contributed touchdown runs of 68 and 42 yards and returned a punt 42 yards for a third as St. Cloud High School's undefeated freshmen won their fifth in a row in a 28-8 victory over Gateway. Stan Venable scored on a 3-yard run, and Anil Azeez caught a two-point conversion pass from Tommy Rose for the Bulldogs' other points. Gateway slipped to 2-3 in defeat.